Written Answers Friday 13 July 2007

Scottish Executive

Autism

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are available for children suffering from autistic spectrum disorder in (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) Glasgow City, (c) East Renfrewshire and (d) North Lanarkshire council areas, showing also the types of facilities available.

Mr Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally.

  However, the numbers of pupils in each local authority with an autism spectrum disorder identified as their main difficulty of learning or their reason for support in primary, secondary and special schools, are published in tables 6.9, 6.10, 7.7, 7.8, 8.6 and 8.7 respectively, of Pupils in Scotland, on the Executive’s website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/0.

Burial and Cremation

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations local authorities are under to provide burial facilities and crematoria in local communities.

John Swinney: Local authorities in Scotland have, in the main, statutory powers as opposed to statutory obligations to provide burial facilities and crematoria for their area. In relation to the provision of burial facilities, local authorities have powers to provide new burial grounds. There is a limited duty only on local authorities to replace any burial ground in circumstances where an existing burial ground has been closed by order in council, in which event the replacement burial ground requires to be provided within six months of the order. In relation to the provision of crematoria, local authorities again have powers rather than duties to provide and maintain crematoria.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-723 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will be in a position to detail its plans for the future of the Youth Music Initiative.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-723 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, what the considerations are that will determine its decision regarding the future of the Youth Music Initiative.

Linda Fabiani: Further to the answer to question S3W-723 on 20 June 2007, I can confirm that the Youth Music Initiative will continue.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-724 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will be in a position to detail its plans for the future of the Cultural Co-ordinators in Schools programme.

Linda Fabiani: Further to my answer to question S3W-724 on 20 June 2007, I can confirm that the Cultural Co-ordinators in Schools programme will continue.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-726 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, whether continued support for the concept of an escalator model for young people with creative talents is dependent upon the outcome of its consideration of the future for the Cultural Co-ordinators in Schools programme.

Linda Fabiani: No.

Culture

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assess the success of the Youth Music Initiative.

Linda Fabiani: Work on this has been completed already. The Primary 6 Target Report, published in January 2007, assessed the success of each local authority in reaching the primary school target set by the then administration. And an evaluation of the first three years of the Youth Music Initiative was published in March 2007. Both reports can be accessed on the Scottish Arts Council website. Scottish ministers will consider further evaluation in due course.

Education

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children will be involved in the pilot scheme starting in October 2007 to provide free school meals for P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: The free school meals trial will encompass up to approximately 37,700 P1 to P3 pupils, though some of these pupils will already be entitled to free school meals.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P1 classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, 18 per cent of P1 classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P2 classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, 10 per cent of single stage P2 classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P3 classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, seven per cent of single stage P3 classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P1 composite classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, 47 per cent of P1 Composite classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P2 composite classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, 36 per cent of P2 composite classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P3 composite classes have 18 pupils or fewer.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available is from the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 , published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September 2006, 32 percent of P3 Composite classes had 18 pupils or less.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with COSLA regarding the implementation of the policy of having 18 pupils or fewer in P1 to P3 classes.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions will be held with COSLA regarding the implementation of the policy of having 18 pupils or fewer in P1 to P3 classes.

Adam Ingram: Officials will hold discussions with COSLA in due course. The Scottish Executive is embarking upon an ambitious programme of class size reduction which will bring huge benefits to pupils and teachers. Its success depends on the co-operation of everyone involved.

Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal assessments have been carried out under the terms of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 in (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) Glasgow City, (c) East Renfrewshire and (d) North Lanarkshire council areas, showing also the numbers of children waiting for such assessments on the latest date for which information is available.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally.

  However, the numbers of pupils in each local authority with additional support needs in primary, secondary and special schools, are published in tables 6.8, 7.6 and 8.5 respectively, of Pupils in Scotland, on the Executive’s website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/0.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the benefits of a decentralised system of energy generation.

Jim Mather: Various studies from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Greenpeace and the World Alliance for Decentralised Energy (WADE) have assessed the feasibility, cost and benefits of decentralised energy systems. These studies suggest that local generation of electricity reduces transmission losses and combined heat and power (CHP) systems can operate at significantly higher efficiencies by reusing waste heat from electricity generation.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider undertaking independent research into the benefits of, and options for, a decentralised system of energy generation.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is currently considering conducting studies into the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems in parts of Scotland.

Enterprise

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site and will work constructively with the Ravenscraig Partnership on issues falling within the Executive’s remit.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site and has allocated funding to Scottish Enterprise to help it contribute to that. We will engage with the Ravenscraig Partnership if and when such engagement is required.

Enterprise

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to meet representatives of Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council, Wilson Bowden Developments and Corus to discuss their proposals for developing the Ravenscraig brownfield site.

Jim Mather: There are currently no plans for the Scottish Government to meet with representatives of Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council, Wilson Bowden Developments and Corus to discuss their proposals for developing the Ravenscraig brownfield site. Should such a meeting be requested, we would of course consider that.

Fertility Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for fertility treatment in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data is not routinely collected however, the Report of the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland provided average waiting times for 1988-2005 and can be accessed via the attached link, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/173213/0048365.pdf .

  For ease I attach this information:

  Average waiting times for IVF 1988-2005.

  

NHS Board
Ave Waiting Time for IVF in Aug 1998 
(pre EAGISS)
Ave Waiting Time for IVF in 2001
Ave Waiting Time for IVF in 2004
Ave Waiting Time for IVF in April 2005


Argyll and Clyde*
30
27
7
7


Ayrshire and Arran
24
24
6
8


Borders
60
48
3
3


Dumfries and Galloway
30
24
19
19


Fife
24
24
24
24


Forth Valley
-
4
9
10


Grampian
24
24
48
60


Greater Glasgow
36
18
8
7


Highland
24
12
18
6


Lanarkshire
24
-
-
11


Lothian
36
9
12
24


Orkney
9
0
0
8


Shetland
-
0
6
2


Tayside
33
24
24
24


Western Isles
-
-
-
-



  Notes:

  Waiting Times quoted are in months.

  *Figures refer to pre-dissolution of Argyll and Clyde NHS board.

  -Number either too small to assess / not recorded / not available.

Fertility Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the findings of A Report of the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland , published in March 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Executive is working with stakeholders to gather the data necessary to inform the next stage of the process.

Gaelic

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-737 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will be in a position to detail its future plans regarding support and funding for the Gaelic digital broadcasting channel.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish ministers are giving close attention to the support and funding required for the operation of the Gaelic digital service and any further details will be announced as part of the Spending Review process. Discussions are also taking place with Ofcom, the BBC and the Gaelic Media Service about progress towards the launch of the channel and these bodies will make announcements at appropriate stages.

Gaelic

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with regard to making the Gaelic digital broadcasting channel available on Freeview.

Linda Fabiani: This subject has been discussed by broadcasters, their regulator and interest groups. I plan to meet with the Gaelic Media Service and BBC to discuss this and other aspects of the Gaelic digital channel as soon as possible.

Historic Scotland

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-728 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when its exploration of the detailed implications of a potential merger between Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland will be completed.

Linda Fabiani: We expect our initial assessment of the detailed implications of a potential merger between Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland to be completed by the autumn.

Historic Scotland

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-728 by Linda Fabiani on 20 June 2007, when it will be in a position to detail its future plans for Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: We will be in a position to detail our future plans for Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland once we have completed our current exploration of the detailed implications of a potential merger of the two bodies. As already stated in my answer to question S3W-1449 on 13 July 2007, we expect to complete this exploration by the autumn.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many death certificates have recorded MRSA as the cause of death in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is unusual for MRSA infection to be an isolated cause of death, as a range of contributory factors are normally involved. The death certificates that have recorded MRSA as the underlying cause of death are, however, shown in the following table:

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


MRSA recorded as the underlying cause of death
22
35
36
46
39
42
38



  The data provided in the above table should be noted with caution. Recording of MRSA infection on death certificates is based on the clinical judgement of each doctor. Changes in the number of cases year-on-year may therefore be influenced by increased public and professional awareness of MRSA and may not be a reliable indicator of the true incidence.

  The HAI Task Force has developed a comprehensive programme of measures to tackle Healthcare Associated Infections. The task force will be taking a new HAI programme forward from 2008-09 which will focus on targeting skin and soft tissue infections; examining the case for introducing an MRSA screening programme; reducing blood stream infections, and ensuring additional surveillance data is put in place in the areas of general medicine and care of the elderly.

  Since October 2006, reporting of all Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (MRSA and MSSA) has been mandatory. The last report Scottish Surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infection Programme: Quarterly Report on MRSA Bacteraemias In Scotland, January 2003 – March 2007 was published by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) on 3 July, and confirms that serious MRSA infection rates remain stable. It is available from the HPS website at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/surveillance/ReportsDetail.aspx.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many death certificates have been altered to show MRSA as the cause of death in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: The data provided in the following table shows the position where death certificates have been altered on the basis of additional information received from Procurator Fiscals:

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


MRSA added as underlying cause of death
0
0
0
1
1
0
1

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposal for a £2,000 first time buyer’s grant will be submitted for consideration by the comprehensive spending review.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The funding of all aspects of housing will be under consideration as part of the spending review process.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support will be given to local authorities where stock transfer of housing was rejected by tenants in a ballot.

Nicola Sturgeon: Local authorities where tenants voted against stock transfer are developing standard delivery plans setting out how they will achieve the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). It will be for those councils, as it is for all other councils in Scotland, to determine how best to fund the required investment using the financial resources available to them. Potential resources include tenants’ rents, increased efficiency, prudential borrowing, receipts from right to buy sales and disposal of other Housing Revenue Account assets.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pressured area status will continue to be made available.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The pressured area mechanism was introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and this legislation remains in force. However, the Scottish Government recognises the pressures which right to buy sales can place on affordable housing in some communities, and is keen to explore how the policy might be aligned more closely to local needs. This will include considering the effectiveness of pressured area designations, looking in particular at sales from 30 September 2007, when tenants affected by designations begin to be eligible to buy in significant numbers.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Homestake programme will continue to be made available.

Nicola Sturgeon: I announced during the Parliamentary Housing Debate on 21 June that the Scottish Government would take forward its proposal to establish a Scottish Housing Support Fund, and in so doing that we would build on the successful Homestake programme and look to expand the scheme and move it forwards. In the meantime Homestake will continue to operate as at present.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Minister for Communities and Sport plans to take in respect of the single seller survey.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-173 on 6 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Racial Equality

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the Race Equality Strategy and Action Plan developed by the previous administration and, if so, when.

Nicola Sturgeon: As the previous administration acknowledged, and as called for by many stakeholders, the current draft of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Race Equality requires further work. We therefore intend to further develop the strategy and action plan and will issue it for consultation in the autumn.

Renewable Energy

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it will commission on the cumulative impact of small to medium wind farm developments.

Jim Mather: The recently published Scottish Planning Policy 6: Renewable Energy (SPP6 ) stipulates that prospective developers must adequately address the cumulative impact of their proposal. It also requires that Planning Authorities take account of projects that have already been built, as well as those consented but not yet built and those that are currently at the application stage. This, together with existing Scottish Natural Heritage guidance, should ensure that cumulative impacts are effectively mitigated. At this stage, we have no plans to commission research.

Renewable Energy

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review the funding criteria whereby farms are not eligible for loans from Loan Action Scotland to install small to medium-size wind turbines, given that the scheme is not oversubscribed.

Jim Mather: There are no plans to review the criteria in this way. The Loan Action Scotland scheme does not normally support projects in the agricultural sector as these are excluded due to EU State Aid rules. In addition, the scheme supports projects which deliver good carbon savings and have a payback period of less than five years. Investments in small to medium-size wind turbines generally result in much longer payback periods, usually in excess of 10 years.

Tourism

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any state aid issues have been raised as a result of the relationship between VisitScotland and the firms operating visitscotland.com.

Jim Mather: I understand that certain state aid issues have been raised in relation to the business model used by visitscotland.com. These are currently being considered by the European Commission.